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Major Hugs began with a little girl named Jaden.
Several years ago, Veteran’s Promise was contacted after the sudden passing of former U.S. Army soldier and Marine Sgt. Michael Binder. As Veteran’s Promise stepped in to support the family during funeral services, they learned that Sgt. Binder’s 7-year-old daughter, Jaden, was now facing the unimaginable loss of her father.
Wanting to bring her comfort and something she could hold onto during such a difficult time, the representatives attending the services decided to give Jaden a teddy bear in memory of her dad. That bear would later become known as Major Hugs.
On the drive to the services, the representatives discussed what to name the bear. They wanted the name to carry meaning and to represent the love and connection between a child and their military parent. After considering many ideas, they chose the name “Major Hugs” because they hoped the bear would provide comfort whenever Jaden missed her father or needed someone to talk to.
What happened next was something no one expected.
Jaden quickly formed a special bond with Major Hugs. She carried the bear with her nearly everywhere she went, talking to him as though she were talking to her dad. Through her experience, Veteran’s Promise realized that something as simple as a teddy bear could offer tremendous comfort during grief, separation, deployment, and other challenges military families often face.
From that moment, Major Hugs became more than just a bear. He became a program.
Today, the Major Hugs program is part of Veteran’s Promise and supports veterans, active-duty service members, and their families. Whether a child is coping with the loss of a loved one, navigating a deployment, or simply missing a parent during training or service, Major Hugs is there to provide comfort, companionship, and a reminder that they are never alone.
Like all programs through Veteran’s Promise, Major Hugs is provided free of charge to veterans and their families as part of the organization’s mission to “Keep the Promise” to those who serve.